A DOG lover has helped to rehome more than 1,000 pups in her 22 years as a volunteer with Dogs Trust.
Fran MacDonald from Stratford is a long-term supporter of the Kenilworth branch of the charity.
She recently completed her 1,000th home check – carried out to ensure a home and garden is safe and secure before a dog goes to their forever home.
Fran also works with the longer-term dogs on socialisation, greets weekend visitors to the centre and helps at the fund-raising events.
During her time with the charity she has walked around 5,000 dogs and seen some 25,000 dogs come through the doors of the rehoming centre. She loves all dogs, but is particularly fond of the oldies.
And Fran does not leave her volunteer work at the Honiley-based centre – in the time she has volunteered at Dogs Trust she has adopted nine of the pups, from Greyhounds to German Shepherds.
She said: “I have loved every minute of my time at Dogs Trust. I enjoy the waggy-tailed greetings when you arrive at the kennels to take them for a walk, knowing you are doing a little bit to make their day brighter. It’s incredibly rewarding, and emotional, to see the dogs going off to new homes, especially if they have been waiting a while and you’ve built up a bond with them.
“I would really recommend volunteering to anyone thinking about it. It has kept me active and gets me out and about meeting new people. I’ve always loved dogs so enjoy getting to spend time with dogs who are waiting for a forever family. It’s wonderful to see the difference I can make to their lives. I really look forward to my time spent at the centre – it is one of the highlights of my week.”
Volunteer co-ordinator Marie Charley thanked Fran.
She said: “Fran is an all-round amazing person who has given us so much of her time over the last two decades. We are so grateful to her for all of her dedication in helping to rehome our dogs and for helping us to make their lives as happy as possible whilst they are here. She truly is one in a million”
Call 0300 303 0292 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering to find out more about volunteering or rehoming a dog.
